Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Premiership season 2009 - Round 9 Review

Total Crowd 11,854 (Avg 2,964)

After the heartbreaker that was the state match last weekend, many SA footy-heads were just happy to get back into the regular stuff and now begins the two year wait until the next time the tri-colours get a run. That is, if the petition the SANFL ran recently dictates people wouldn't mind seeing us getting a run with alternative competition... anyone still burning about the 1995 match in the Apple Isle? Go the the league website and vote!


But anyway, back to the regular stuff as I said... this is the Round 9 Wrap-Up!

Up first for this edition, we head down The Parade to Coopers Stadium where the grand old flags flew for the Redlegs and the Double Blues. These two rivals have quite the history over the past three seasons, with Sturt winning four of the last five games which included their obliteration of the Redlegs in the 1st Semi-Final last year. Things were slow to get going early on in the piece where after Sturt's first goal, both sides struggled to find the big sticks. That was the only major for the quarter, Sturt wasting several chances on goal to score 1.6 to Norwood's lousy three behinds. The goals were a little more plentiful in the second term though, the Blues accuracy improving to see them add 3.1 to the Redlegs' two goals to extend their lead to 16 points by the long break. When the Blues came back to the field for the third quarter, they would continue to tighten their hold on the game with an additional 3.1 to a wasteful 1.4 by the home side to make it a 25 point gap at three quarter-time. Norwood finally showed some fight in the final quarter, but the boots of the visitors were far more accurate as they kicked 7.1 -- double their overall goal tally for three quarters -- to Norwood's 3.4 to take out a 46 point victory in front of almost 5000 people. Scott McGlone was voted best for Sturt, while Brett Zorzi was named best afield for the 'Legs.

The next day, a perfect sunny afternoon was in effect much to the joy of SA footy-heads and the ABC cameras headed to Woodville Oval for the encounter between the Eagles and the Bulldogs. The 'noughties' have seen this rivalry grow since the 2000 Grand Final and four other premiership deciders since then. The Eagles spanked the Dogs at Woodville last year, but fell short in the season opener this year. Many gave the Eagles no chance to win this time around, but they gave that notion some serious doubt then they were just two points behind at quarter-time. It would still be neck and neck in the second term, but Centrals players would make costly mistakes that would deny them a bigger lead. At the half-time break, it was 6.6 to 6.3 in favour of the visitors. The Eagles would continue to hound the reigning premiers into the third quarter, again the Dogs' average skills stopping them from sprinting off. One example would be a dropped mark in their attacking zone in the final seconds of the third quarter which could have seen Centrals up by nine points at the final change. Alas, the gap would not be stretched, still three points at three quarter-time. Enter Ken McGregor. Shifted up forward, his three goals in amongst the Eagles' 5.1 for the final term against the Dogs' 2.1 would seal it, the Eagles ending the streak to the tune of 15 points. Mark McKenzie's return match would see him bag best afield votes for the Eagles, while Chad O'Sullivan was named best for the Bulldogs.

Further on down Port Road, Alberton Oval was the scene for the contest between the Magpies and the Bloods. Despite some average seasons over the past few years, the Magpies have lost only once to the Bloods in the last eight outings. That blotch on the record was in 2006 at Alberton when the visitors ambushed the black & whites to post a 39 point win. The Bloods were ready this time, starting off by kicking four goals without a miss to Port's 1.3 to lead by 15 points at quarter-time. They improved on that by extending the gap to 27 points at the long break after adding a further 3.3 to 1.3 in the second term. But like last week against the Eagles, third quarter jitters associated more with other football teams -- not naming anyone! -- would allow Port to get close. But their shooting had left much to be desired, they kicked 4.7 to West's single goal to draw the lead back to two points. But the Bloods regained their composure and although their accuracy on goal dropped, the Magpies didn't do too much better and a post-siren shot on goal for the home side skewed wide to allow West to take a four point victory. 2009 state team member Ryan Ferguson won best on ground honours for West, while Port voted in James Meiklejohn as their standout.

In the final match for Round 9, the Roosters headed down south to the Hickinbotham Oval in Noarlunga to face the Panthers. Just thinking about these two teams gets you thinking about civil wars. The main winner has been North, aside from Round 18 last year and a draw in 2007 the Roosters have had the better of the Panthers for the last nine matches. The Roosters started off best, but inaccuracy would prevent a bigger margin at quarter-time as they kicked 4.6 to 2.1 to lead by 17 points at the first change. The Panthers managed to keep up with the Roosters, cutting the lead back to 10 points by half-time then they kicked 4.3 to 3.2. The lead would stretch back out to 15 points by the final change when play resumed, the Roosters adding 3.4 to their score while South kicked an inaccurate 2.5. Lack of spirit would not be a factor in South's demise this time around, the Roosters' ability to respond with twice the force on the scoreboard was as the visitors kicked 5.5 to 2.2 to take out a 36 point win. Matt Wright was named best for North, while the Panthers named Dylan Williams as their best player.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 9 OF THE SANFL

Friday May 29
Sturt 14.9 (93)
Norwood 6.11 (47)
4,978 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood - night match

Saturday May 30
Woodville-West Torrens 14.6 (90)
Central District 1.9 (75)
2,027 @ Woodville Oval

West Adelaide 11.8 (74)
Port Adelaide 9.16 (70)
3,003 @ Alberton Oval

North Adelaide 15.17 (107)
South Adelaide 10.11 (71)
1,846 @ Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga

Glenelg had the bye.


INJURIES
West -- Caire (ankle)
Port -- Clayton (ankle)

REPORTS
Norwood -- Duigan (rough conduct)


LEAGUE LADDER
-------------------------------
Central -- 14pts (7-1-0), 58.1%
Sturt -- 12pts (6-2-0), 60.8%
Glenelg -- 12pts (6-2-0), 51.1%
W-WT -- 11pts (5-3-1), 50.6%
North -- 8pts (4-3-0), 52.7%
-------------------------------

West -- 7pts (3-4-1), 45.6%
Norwood -- 4pts (2-6-0), 48.3%
Port -- 2pts (1-7-0), 46%
South -- 2pts (1-7-0), 36%
-------------------------------


Next weekend in Round 10...

Saturday June 6
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Norwood; Woodville Oval
West Adelaide vs. North Adelaide; City Mazda Stadium, Richmond

Monday June 8
Glenelg vs. Port Adelaide; Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg
Sturt vs. Central District; House Brothers Oval, Unley

South Adelaide have the bye.

So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!

R-9, Ladder

Team GP PTS %
CENT 8 14 58.18
STURT 8 12 60.80
GLEN 8 12 51.14
W-WT 9 11 50.64
NORTH 7 8 52.74
WEST 8 7 45.61
NORW 8 4 48.37
PORT 8 2 46.05
SOUTH 8 2 36.08

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.